By Sonu Purhar
Summer is in full swing, and that means more hours of sunshine in which to enjoy ice cream! Though we love a solid chocolate or cookies-and-cream scoop, there are plenty of next-level variations of our favourite warm-weather treat served at dessert cafés, parlours, farms and eateries across Metro Vancouver. Read on for 10 suggestions that will satisfy your sweet tooth and leave you screaming for more ice cream.
Mister
1141 Mainland Street, Vancouver
It sounds like an Insta-bait science experiment, but liquid nitrogen plays an important role in producing creamy, flavour-packed ice cream: because nitrogen freezes the cream so rapidly, fewer ice crystals are formed and less air is allowed into the final product (science lesson over). Situated in trendy Yaletown, Mister is converting ice cream aficionados to the liquid nitrogen way one made-to-order cup at a time. Try the Marshmallow Crème Brûlée for a nostalgic treat that harkens to summers around the campfire.
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I.ceQueen
4000 No. 3 Road, Richmond
Ever tried rolled ice cream? Now’s your chance! I.ceQueen dishes up the intriguing Thai-style dessert, whose liquid base is poured onto a frozen pan, then chopped, mixed and spread. After you’ve chosen your ice cream flavour, build a bowl by layering whichever toppings your heart desires (we recommend teddy bear graham crackers).
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Glenburn Soda Fountain and Confectionary
4090 Hastings Street, Burnaby
A throwback to ice cream parlours of yore, Glenburn serves classic treats like sundaes, milkshakes and malts. You can’t go wrong with a simple cone, whose ice cream is sourced from Abbotsford’s Birchwood Dairy. But, if you’re keen to expand your dessert palate, take a leap of faith and order the egg cream: combining milk, seltzer water and chocolate or vanilla syrup, the refreshing brew was particularly popular in New York in the early 1900’s.
Snowy Village
148-10090 152nd Street, Surrey; 800 Carnarvon St, New Westminster; 21183 88 Ave, Langley City; 1188 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam; 8571 Alexandra Rd, Richmond; 1696 Robson St, Vancouver
Traditional Korean desserts like bingsoo (shaved ice with toppings) headline Snowy Village’s sweet lineup. There are several ice cream variations that incorporate unique flavour combinations sure to spark your tastebuds – try the espresso bingsoo with freshly brewed coffee, ice cream, chocolate powder, sweetened condensed milk and shaved ice.
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Sandcastle Sea Shoppe
This ice cream parlour/retail shop boasts more than 50 flavours of ice cream and 20 flavours of gelato. The best way to indulge? Order a twin cone and share your scoops with a special someone. (Read more about must-visit White Rock ice cream spots here).
Kraus Berry Farms & Winery
6179 248 Street, Langley
Talk about hyper-local! Kraus Berry Farms’ fruit-forward ice creams are crafted from ingredients grown right on the family-owned property. Whether your taste preferences lean towards raspberries, strawberries or blueberries, you’ll find a farm-fresh ice cream to suit. Purchase a container to bring home, or order a scoop and enjoy it on the porch.
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Rocky Point Ice Cream
100-500 6th Avenue, New Westminster
Once a summertime ice cream kiosk, Rocky Point Ice Cream recently opened its second storefront in New Westminster (the other is located in Port Moody’s Rocky Point Park). The owners studied the art of ice cream in university, including analyzing the sweet treat on a molecular level – and the result is rich, smooth-textured ice cream that hits the spot every time. Flavours are ever-changing, so your best bet is to sample whatever catches your eye and opt for two (or three!) scoops of your favourites.
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Welcome Parlour
277 East 8th Street East and 125 Victory Shipway, North Vancouver
Situated in heritage building The Hodson Block, with another storefront in Lower Lonsdale’s Shipyards, Welcome Parlour takes inspiration from authentic ice cream parlours of the past. The shops dish up natural ice cream churned in small batches; though flavours rotate regularly (check the website for the current lineup), we remain forever fans of the cracked salted caramel.
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Cup Full Dessert Café
2079-1163 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam
Though this cute café features a range of desserts and coffees – including bingsoo – the Soft Peaks ice cream selection stands out. Soft Peaks is handcrafted using local organic milk, cream and emulsifiers, as well as zero GMO sugars, resulting in a creamy all-natural indulgence that’s lower in fat and calories than regular ice cream. Take your pick of silkily satisfying flavours ranging from salty Himalayan (sprinkled with Himalayan pink salt and your choice of syrup) to “mudslide” (adorned by Tim Tam crumbs and chocolate syrup).
Peter’s House Ice Cream
204-21183 88 Avenue, Langley
Organic milk and cream serve as the base for this traditionally made ice cream, whose ingredients are sourced from Krause Berry Farms and Nature’s Fare markets. Lots of solid options here – we’re partial towards Oreo, coffee and dark chocolate – though if you’re feeling adventurous, you can opt for out-of-the-box options like rose and beet or Earl Grey and lavender.
Header image via Flickr by gordonramsaysubmissions
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